Lead, Whole Blood (Venous)
Ordering Recommendation
Recommended for routine testing for lead exposure. For occupational exposure, consider Lead, Industrial, Whole Blood (0025016).
New York DOH Approval Status
Specimen Required
Royal blue (K2EDTA), Royal blue (NaHep), or tan (K2EDTA).
Transport 3 or 6 mL whole blood in the original collection tube (royal blue). (Min: 0.5 mL) OR Transport 3 mL whole blood in the original collection tube (tan). (Min: 0.5 mL)
Room temperature. Also acceptable: Refrigerated.
Serum. Specimens collected in tubes other than royal blue (K2EDTA), royal blue (NaHep), or tan (K2EDTA). Clotted specimens. Capillary pediatric EDTA collection tubes, refer to Lead, Whole Blood (Capillary) 0020745.
Ambient: Indefinitely; Refrigerated: Indefinitely; Frozen: Unacceptable
Methodology
Quantitative Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
Performed
Sun-Sat
Reported
1-3 days
Reference Interval
Effective July 21, 2025
Test Number |
Components |
Reference Interval |
---|---|---|
Lead, Whole Blood (Venous) | Less than or equal to 3.4 µg/dL |
Interpretive Data
Reference intervals are based on the CDC's Blood Lead Reference Value (BLRV). Thresholds and time intervals for retesting, medical evaluation, and response vary by state and regulatory body. Contact your State Department of Health and/or applicable regulatory agency for specific guidance on medical management recommendations.
Elevated results may be due to skin- or collection-related contamination, including the use of tubes that are not certified to be trace element free. If an elevated result is suspected to be due to contamination, confirmation with a second specimen collected in a certified trace element-free tube is recommended.
Methodology: Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).
Laboratory Developed Test (LDT)
Note
Hotline History
Hotline History
CPT Codes
83655
Components
Component Test Code* | Component Chart Name | LOINC |
---|---|---|
0020098 | Lead, Whole Blood (Venous) | 77307-7 |
Aliases
- Pb
- Lead (Adult)
- BLL
- Venous blood level
- Pb, Blood
- Pb, Whole Blood